BENEVOLENT TRUSTEES.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13845, 7 March 1907, Page 4

BENEVOLENT TRUSTEES.

The weekly meeting of the Benevolent Inst-ifcution Trustees, held yesterday afternoon, was attended hy I he' Chairman (Me AY. T. Talboys), and Messrs A. Tapper, T. W. Kempthorne, W. Burnett, 11. A. La •Oron, J. Arkle, J. M. fiallaway, D. LarEach, and Captain Easthcr. It was reported that, Ninian S. Kinross,' •aged 75 years, had died in tlio institution during the past -week. Tiie outdoor relief book shoved l that for tho month of February tlio cases had numbered 333, consisting of 148 men, 218 women, and 505 children, the average cost per week being £101- 9s 6d, For February of last year tho eases were 298, comprising men, 97 women, and 475 children, tlio cost, being £93 19s 3d per week. Mr LeCren asked if it. was usual to consider all the applications for relief as taken in oommittoe. Tho Chairman: I think so. Mr LeCren said lie aslced this question because applicants for relief were most particular in keeping everything as privato aa possible. Ho asked (he question beeauso he had been surprised the other day that a, case before them, in which a publio man was concerned, had appeared in the press. The Chairman: Everything that, happens at this board is private and confidential. Mr LeCren: That, was my own opinion when I came here, but from letters in the public press it. does not appear to'be so. Mr KonipUiorne: I to surprised to sm that] letter. I don't, think any member of the trust should write letters to tho newspaper. ' Mr Tapper said he oould not agree tiha.fi what was done by tho board was done in committee. It. was dono as a publio .body, with the reporters present, so how could it possibly be in committee? They (the reporters) were supposed to report anything that came up at the hoard that they considered of interest 1o I,bo ratepayers. He thought tho caso referred to was a scandalous ease. Ho not written as a trustee, but as a publio man. The Chairman: The only thing was that it oamo up at til is hoard, and was adjudicated upon by this Board. It is a question whether it is advisable for any iiiemW lo write to the papers on any partiowaa l busi'noss that comes before the hoard. ; Mr Kcinpfchorne thought before writing to the newspapers Mr Tapper ehoud have consulted the trustees. Mr Arkle: Another thing is that it is no compliment to the board to use it as a lever to get. a rap on to another man against whom tho writer has a grievance. Mr Galla.way: Whether these applications are taken in committco or not press always exorcises a wise discretion in reporting and in leaving unreported. 1 think wo should know for tho future what our position is. Tho Chairman: There was another case which cropped up. A man was written to with regard to his family. He had dono evory- . thing !ho. could for his family, and it is hard that these cases should bo criticised in the public press. Mr Tapper: You must know that this was a scandalous caso. The Chairman;: Wo don't know tlio particulars of tho case. Mr Callaway: Mr Tapper says the case was scandalous. I am not prepared to say •• it was a scandalous caso at- all. As 'a matter of fact the persons to'whom reference was made in flic letter wore ignorant of tlio application being made. The point i 8 this: whether tho things happening at the' board should be used for privato purposes. Mr Burnett: I shbuld liko to know your ruling upon tho point. Tho Chairman: I quite agree with what has liccn said. What is taken at this board is in committee, and if is privato and confidential, and should not bo outside. Mr Callaway: The fact of (he pfess being present is sufficient- guarantee that everything is open and above board. Tho disoussion then ended, the Chairman remarking that it was not necessity to minute anything. Tho expression of opinion would be sufficient. Tho relief cases, numbering 48, were then dealt with.